Daughter of Fallen Officer Remembers Her Father Six Years After His Death

Published April 5th, 2013

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GAINESVILLE - It is said that "time heals all wounds." But for the family of one fallen police officer, the wounds are still fresh six years after the death of Gainesville Police Lieutenant Corey Dahlem.

Thursday marked six years since Dahlem was pulled off life support after being hit by a drunk driver along University Avenue. Dahlem was on foot patrol at the time, following the Gator men's basketball team's last national championship win, when a car plowed through an intersection that was closed off and hit him.

Today, six years after his death, Dahlem's family still struggles to cope with his loss. His daughter, Katie Dahlem, 24, is about to graduate from nursing school at Santa Fe College. Katie says that she chose to pursue a career in nursing because her father found public service so important. She is set to graduate this May.

Katie now lives in her parents' old house and has dedicated her childhood bedroom to the memory of her father.

Meantime, she says her brother, Brandon, 27, just got married in Tampa. Brandon is currently working as a firefighter in St. Petersburg, following in his father's footsteps of public service. Katie says her mother, Sally, is holding up well, but as it is for the rest of the family, this time of the year is always hard.